Healthy Summer

Spending time in our natural environment can have multiple health benefits. It can elevate our mood, lower blood pressure, and fight anxiety and depression. It can bring calm into our stressful lives. Nature’s restorative effects are available to people of all ages and fitness levels.

Summer brings many opportunities to get outdoors, enjoy natural surroundings, and support our health. As you plan your next break, explore these resources that can help you stay healthy and safe during the summer season.

Outdoor Recreation and Safety

Missouri summers can be hot! In the heat of the summer, it’s best to avoid the mid-day sun. Instead, get outdoors in the mornings, late afternoons or evenings. But be aware, ticks and mosquitoes like to come out at dawn or dusk as well, or in natural areas we like to explore in summer.

Missouri Tickborne Disease – view interactive maps of tickborne diseases in Missouri, common ticks that spread them, and tips for preventing exposure in the first place. Learn more before you explore the great Missouri outdoors.

• Listen to Nature - reduce stress and improve health
• Missouri State Parks - plan your visit to a state park
• State of Missouri Outdoors - find outdoor activities, services, and news
• Fish Advisory - catch, prepare, and eat healthy fish
• Missouri Tickborne Disease Story Map - learn tickborne disease prevention tips

Harmful Algal Blooms - avoid and report blooms in lakes, ponds, and streams. Learn about the health effects in humans and animals, and what to do if you or others were in water with a bloom.

Summer Weather and Sun Safety

• Hyperthermia - be safe, aware and prepared for hot weather. Learn the signs and symptoms of heat stress and hyperthermia. Recognizing them early can save lives and help you to know what to do until help arrives.
• Cooling Centers - find a local cooling center near you. A cooling center is a place to cool down from the heat during the day. This map shares contact and access information under normal business operations. Keep this resource on hand for your best health plan.
• Aeroallergens - get tips on protecting yourself from pollen in the air.
• CDC's Heat & Health Tracker - view local heat and health information to better prepare for and respond to extreme heat events
• CDC's Melanoma Dashboard - view data on skin cancer and get preventive tips for staying safe in the sun

Heat stress or heat-related illness can be reduced by following these COOL DOWN Missouri tips

Healthy at Home or Away

Harvest is in Reach - explore Missouri's food access landscape, summer food and farmer’s market programs, and resources for getting outside and exploring the fresh picks of the season in your community. Resources include links to educational events and recipe inspiration. What’s for your dinner tonight?

• Carbon Monoxide - prevent carbon monoxide poisoning while vacationing, boating or grilling
• Radon - if your windows are closed this summer, it may be an ideal time to test for radon
• Storms - recover after a storm or flood
• Missouri Grown - find fresh, local and delicious Missouri-grown foods and fun
• Community Gardening - create a community garden free of environmental contaminants

Additional Resources:

• Summer Food Service Program
• Nutrition for Wellness and Prevention
• Farm to Early Care and Education
• Missouri Storm Aware
• Natural Disasters and Weather Emergencies
• Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) Traveler Information Map
• Missouri State Park Beach Status
• Swim Healthy, Stay Healthy brochure
• Farm Safety

Missouri Environmental Public Health Tracking (EPHT) is a program within the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. EPHT is part of a network of people and information systems which delivers a core set of health, exposure, and hazards data, information summaries and tools to enable analysis, visualization and reporting of insights drawn from data. Those insights are intended to help data drive actions and improve community health.